The Top 5 in the Castrol Rankings: Messi, Ronaldo and the World's Best Forwards

The Top 5 in the Castrol Rankings: Messi, Ronaldo and the World's Best Forwards

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The Castrol Rankings is an index which gives points to players based on every facet of the game.

Each player's performance is measured, giving them a Castrol Index Score.

Then, the player's index score is multiplied by a predetermined weighting based on the importance of the match. (An EPL game is less weighted than a Champions League semi-final match).

Castrol Index Score x Weighting = Castrol Rankings points.

The points total is then added to the previous points over the past 12 months. This is divided by the total minutes the player played over those 12 months and multiplied by 90 in order to derive an average 90-minute score for every player.

This culminates to each players point total, provided in the following slides.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

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Castrol Points: 948

Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his status as one of the best players in the world, with 31 goals in this campaign. He has scored in nearly every way possible, knocking in 13 right-foot, five left-foot, two headers, one free kick and 10 goals dispatched from the penalty spot.

Even on an off day, Ronaldo has the ability to be the best performing player on the planet.

4. Robin Van Persie

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Castrol Points: 990

Robin Van Persie has quality that is criminal to doubt, regardless of club allegiances.

In the 2011 calender year, RVP set a new club record with 35 goals, beating out Thierry Henry's 34-goal calendar year in 2004 . He also broke a Premier League record by scoring in nine successive away matches.

One is only left to wonder what this man could accomplish if he were to stay injury-free and on top form.

Gunner fans, cross your fingers.

3. Karim Benzema

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Castrol Points: 1,005

During the 2011-2012 campaign, Karim Benzema has scored 17 times in an incredibly impressive 22 starts.

Almost tallying a goal per start, the French predator is starting to see his career blossom on an extremely competitive Madrid team. This is no easy task, having to contend with other prolific goalscorers in Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Callejon, Kaka and Angel Di Maria.

This man has been a star since his early days at Lyon, firing his French side to domestic success time and time again.

This is one tough cookie. Look for him to only get better and better during his time in Madrid, however long that may be.

2. Mario Gomez

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Castrol Points: 1,026

In 26 games, Mario Gomez has scored 25 goals.

In the 2011 calender year, "Super Mario" scored 50 goals.

This is no man. This is a German engineered scoring machine.

Goals. They are what he is paid to score.

And he delivers.

Enough said.

1. Lionel Messi

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Castrol Points: 1,097

Lionel Messi, the atomic flea, is undeniably the most talented and in-form goalscorer in the world.

He has 32 goals in 29 appearances, averaging more than a goal per game.

The eternal debate likening Messi to the likes of Pele and Maradona will rage on forever. However, he couldn't do much more to make his case with his torrid scoring pace.

Unfairly, the only way to surmount the grandeur of legends past, little Lionel Messi must polish a World Cup trophy or two after he hangs up his boots.

If anyone can carry a massively talented but recently disorganized Argentina side, it certainly is Messi.

Far and away he is the greatest player of his generation, and the greatest player of the modern era.